Explanation:
Cosmic clouds of gas and dust drift across this magnificent
panorama, spanning some 17 degrees near the
southern boundary
of the heroic constellation
Perseus.
The collaborative skyscape begins
with bluish stars of Perseus at the left,
but the eye is drawn to the striking,
red NGC 1499.
Also known as the California Nebula, its
characteristic glow of atomic
hydrogen gas is powered by ultraviolet light from
luminous blue star Xi Persei immediately to the nebula's
right.
Farther along, intriguing young star cluster
IC 348 and
neighboring Flying Ghost Nebula are right of center.
Connected by dark and dusty tendrils on the outskirts of a giant
molecular cloud, another active star
forming region, NGC 1333,
lies near the upper right edge of the wide field of view.
Shining faintly, dust clouds
strewn throughout the scene
are hovering hundreds of light-years above the galactic
plane and reflect starlight from the
Milky Way.